Find any Jewish celebration, and you are bound to find wonderful food to accompany it. Some foods are prepared in a traditional style, all of which goes back to certain Scriptures that call for that preparation.

For instance, the prohibition of making fire on the Sabbath has led to the use of slow cooking stews in many times of Jewish cuisine. The Jewish people have long held their traditions firmly in place while learning to savor many of the same foods as their gentile neighbors.

In ancient times, certain foods were considered more desirable than others. Those includes legumes, wild plants, wheat, barley, olives, dates, pomegranate, figs, grapes, and mutton. Today, these foods are still popular additions to the Jewish plate, but other foods have crept in as well, depending upon the area in which a Jewish person was raised.

Bagels, Knishes, and Borscht are all foods that were eaten by Jewish people in Europe and Russia. The people there were often very poor, and the foods reflect a simple style. In the United States, some Jewish staples include Matzah balls, gefilte fish, falfalel, and hummus.

Kashrut is the rule of Jewish law that says what can and cannot be eaten. Animals with cloven hooves and those that chew their cud are forbidden, and those animals that are allowed for eating must be slaughtered and prepared in the kosher way. All blood must be drained, and certain parts of the animal are not suitable for eating. All fruits and vegetables must be examined carefully for bugs, as bugs are not allowed to be eaten.

Meat, including the flesh of both animals and birds, cannot be eaten with dairy products. Even utensils that have been used in meat products cannot then be used in dairy products. There must be at least six hours between the consumption of dairy products and meat products, though some prefer to rinse the mouth with water and eat a piece of neutral bread to stand in for the waiting period.

Anything that has fins and scales can be eaten, but shellfish cannot. Since wine was often used in pagan rituals, grape products that are not created by Jews are deemed inappropriate. This also includes baking powders made with cream of tartar, which is a leavening created as a by-product of the wine-making process.

Keeping kosher can be a difficult thing to do, so many Jews compromise. They might keep kosher at home, but relax their standards when they are in a restaurant. Some adhere to kosher rules when ordering from a menu. Still, others stay very traditional and don’t order foods unless they are prepared in a kosher restaurant, while even that is not acceptable to those who stay the most traditional. In that case, most foods are made in the home, and only foods consumed in Jewish gatherings are permitted.

During the end of November or early December, Hanukkah begins. It happens on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. The word “Hanukkah” means “Rededication,” and is meant to remember the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC, after the Jewish soldiers wrestled it back from the Syrian-Greek soldiers.

The Jewish troops were determined to cleanse the temple by burning ritual oil for eight days. However, when they looked at the oil in the temple, they were dismayed to see only enough for one day. They lit the oil anyway, and to their surprise and delight, the oil burned for the full eight days, even though there should not have been enough.

The miracle of the oil is represented today by the lighting of the Menorah. On the first night, one candle is lit. On the second night, two candles, and so on, until the final night sees all eight candles burning bright. The candles should be lit at sundown or as close to sundown as possible, and positioned so that passersby can see the lights and remember the miracle.

The traditional placement is outside the front door and to the left, but that might not be feasible in all places. Another option is to place the Menorah in a windowsill, but if that isn’t possible, place the Menorah on a table in the center of the room, to declare the miracle to those who are in the household.

Since the Jewish holiday falls so close to Christmas, in many countries Hanukkah has become a bit more secular. Sometimes children are given small gifts, one for every night of Hanukkah, to celebrate the season and the miracle. Even though the gifts were not part of original traditions, many of the original games and foods are still presented during Hanukkah. The miracle of oil calls for the eating of fried foods during the holiday, and the spinning of the Driedel, a classic Jewish game, is often played during the nights when the Menorah burns.

Interestingly, Hanukkah is one of the lesser holidays, according to Jewish law. But the proximity of Hanukkah to Christmas has made it more of an event than it was in centuries past.

The central idea of the Jewish faith is simple: There is one God. 4000 years ago, Abraham promoted that idea, and at the time it was quite radical. Abraham was a Hebrew man from the Middle East, where everyone believed in many gods, all of which were responsible for different things. The thought of one Supreme being was far-fetched to most people.

God told Abraham and his wife, Sarah, that they would have many descendants. The couple, old and childless, had given up hope of having children by the time God said this, but soon Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Isaac later had a son named Jacob, who was also known by the name Israel. The descendants of Abraham became known as the Israelites.

Soon the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, and they dealt with many hardships. Moses, a leader of the Hebrew people, was given the Ten Commandments by God. Those Commandments form the basis of the Torah, or the religious book of the Jewish people.

After many years, the Jewish people were freed — but then they faced even more hardship. They were conquered by other peoples, and spent time enslaved as prisoners of war. The Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Romans all had a hand in the persecution of the Jews, and the Romans destroyed many of their buildings and central way of life. The Jews scattered all over the region in the hopes of staying alive. This kind of dispersion is called the Diaspora, and it continues to this day.

During World War II, the Jews faced a persecution unlike any that even the Romans had handed down in their history. The Holocaust led to the death of millions of Jews, and that led to the desire to have their own country, a place where Jewish people could live in freedom and safety. In 1948, Palestine was divided and Israel was created. The land was once called Canaan, and it was the original “promised land” given to the Jewish people by God.

Today there are fourteen million Jews in the world. About half of them live in the United States, while a quarter live in Israel, and the rest are scattered around other countries. Israel is surrounded by people of Muslim descent, and they believe the land of Israel should be theirs — and so there is, to this day, unrest and fighting in the area of Palestine and Israel.

In the last part of our series concerning Jewish customs and traditions, we take a look at the Simchat Bat, the naming ceremony for Jewish girls, and the Brit Milah, the naming ceremony for Jewish boys.

The Brit Milah. The naming ceremony for a boy is especially important in Jewish tradition. It is the third mark of the covenant between God and man. The first is the Sabbath, the second the Rainbow after the flood, and the third is the Covenant of Circumcision, the physical evidence of man’s acceptance of God’s Covenant.

The circumcision ceremony occurs on the eighth day following the birth of the child, even if that day falls on the Sabbath. The ritual is performed by a Mohel, a person trained in the physical surgical aspect of the circumcision but also trained in the religious aspects. If a Mohel is not available, the ritual may be conducted by a Jewish surgeon. A rabbi is usually there to preside over the ceremony.

During the ceremony, the Mohel calls for the “Kvatter.” The godmother, or “Kvatterin,” takes the child from the mother’s arms. She then takes the child to the Kvatter, or godfather. The Kvatter than places the child on the lap of the “Sandak,” the person who will hold the child while the ceremony is performed. The Sandak has a small chair called the “Chair of Elijah,” where the baby will be placed. It is understood that during the circumcision, Elijah is the protector of the child.

There is a series of prayers during the circumcision ceremony, and after the deed is done, a little of the blessed wine is put on the mouth of the baby. Following this, the child is given his name, and the feast of celebration begins.

The Simchat Bat. Unlike the involved ritual for naming a boy, the girl doesn’t have much of a formal guideline. The daughter is named on the Sabbath following her birth, or during any reading of the Torah, which could be a Monday, Thursday, or holiday. The father approaches the Torah and the child is given her name.

Some parents will opt to have a more formal ceremony, citing prayers and having a feast. The baby girl is feted as the guest of honor at these times, and her naming ceremony takes place at that time.

Jewish tradition teaches that marriage is two people made into one. Just as Adam and Eve were created of one body, so are the two people joined into marriage – they are returning to the state of one being. If God is not part of the union, the couple will not have a long and happy marriage.

Before the wedding begins, the Ketubah must be signed. This is the formal marriage contract, in which the couple are reminded of their moral responsibilities to each other. They sign the contract in front of witnesses before the ceremony can begin.

The badeken is another ceremony which might take place before the wedding itself. This is the act of “veiling” the bride by the groom, and the veil will stay in place until the Seven Blessings of the Chuppah.

The chuppah is the moment when the bride and groom are escorted to the place of their wedding. During the wedding day they are to be treated as a royal king and queen, and as such, they should have escorts. Sometimes the escorts carry candles, which symbolize the union the couple is about to enter into.

During the chuppah, the bride might circle the groom. She might do this once to signify how the woman emcompasses the man. She might do it three times, in keeping with scriptures from Hosea. She might also do it seven times, in keeping with the way Joshua circled the walls of Jericho seven times, until the walls fell down. This signifies that the walls are gone and their souls are connected.

Both the man and the woman then drink of the wine and exchange rings. The ring is placed on the index finger of the right hand, since the right hand is most powerful. It is also the easiest place for witnesses to see the exchange of the rings. Once the rings have been exchanged, the couple is considered married.

After this, the marriage contract is read aloud. The contract is written in Arabic, and must be translated by the rabbi. The contract is then handed from the groom to the bride.

The Seven Blessings are then read over the couple as they share the second glass of wine. The blessings are not only for the couple’s future, but for the future of those around them as well.

Finally, the groom wraps a glass in a handkerchief and breaks it with his foot. This symbolizes the fact that even during times of great joy, the couple will not forget their religious path and past. Upon the breaking of the glass, the couple retires to a private room. There they might have a bite to eat, relax for a while, and prepare to meet their wedding guests.

The Jewish wedding is not complete without a party afterward. During the party there is music, singing, dancing, and other markers of the joyous occasion. During the dancing, the bride and groom are often lifted on chairs in celebration. There is a meal as well, and after that the toasts are made. The celebration continues for seven additional days, during which time the wedding guests prepare feasts for the couple, and prolong the joy a little bit longer.

Jewish traditions are very strong, and many families uphold them throughout the cycle of life. From the birth and naming of a child to the mourning of a death, the circle of life is celebrated with various Jewish traditions that have been passed down through the generations.

Naming a Child. There is an ancient Jewish saying about the beauty of birth: “With each child, the world begins anew.” Jewish parents take this seriously when they are choosing what to name their child. Jewish names are meant to honor the past while carrying a child into the future. The name pays homage to those who came before, but gives the child something to aspire to in its own lifetime. It is believed that the name of a child is closely tied to the essence of who he or she will become. For this reason, many parents choose to give their child two names – one is the secular name, or the one they will be called by their peers. The other is their Hebrew name, which usually begins with the same letter as the secular name, and is meant to guide their religious path.

Death to Burial. In Jewish tradition, the moment of death is an honor for those who are there to witness the peaceful transition from one world to the next. If someone is there with the person when they pass away, they are not to leave the room. The eyes and mouth of the deceased are closed, and a sheet is pulled over his face. The body is positioned so the feet are facing the doorway.

Though the body is now only an empty vessel, it is treated with the utmost respect for having once housed the spirit of God. Since in death there is no distinction between society, between the rich or the poor, everyone is dressed the same, in a simple shroud and a prayer shawl. The fringe of the shawl is cut to symbolize the period of loss and mourning. During the preparation of the body, the immediate family is not expected to be present; however, no one is to leave the body alone between the time of death and the moment of burial.

The body is then buried as soon as possible. The traditional way involves either a simple wooden coffin with no adornments, or placing the body directly into the ground, with no covering but the shroud and shawl.

The funeral service that accompanies the burial is meant to honor the dead and to comfort those who are left to mourn. The immediate family often partakes in the “rendering of the garment,” a ritual that involves cutting a garment across the breast, signifying the ultimate separation from the person who has passed on. It is also a psychological relief, as it allows the person who is mourning to let out their feelings and be comforted by those around them.

In our next post we will talk about other Jewish rituals in the circle of life, and what they mean to those who honor them.

Listing the basic beliefs of Judaism is surprisingly difficult. There is no set dogma for the Jewish religion – there is no certain way someone must believe in order to be a practicing Jew. In Judaism, though beliefs are important, what matters more are actions and your way of life.

There are, however, thirteen principles of Jewish faith. Those principles are widely believed to be the basic tenants of Judaism:

• God does exist.
• God is eternal.
• God is incorporeal.
• God is unique, and the only One.
• Praying should be directed to God and no one else.
• Prophets speak the truth.
• Moses was the greatest  of Prophets, and his predictions were true.
• The five five books of the Bible (the written Torah) and the oral teachings (the oral Torah) were given to Moses.
• There will never be another Torah.
• God knows your every thought and action.
• God will reward you for good, and punish you for bad.
• The Messiah will come.
• When He does, the dead will be resurrected.

Even though these principles are very basic, there are more liberal lines of thinking in the Jewish religion that have rejected many of them. So as you can see, it’s not easy explaining exactly what Jews should or should not believe!

The only thing for certain is that Judaism is based on actions more than beliefs – virtually every branch of the Jewish religion agrees on that point. The Orthodox Jews believe there are 613 commandments in the Torah that are meant to be followed by every Jewish person, and they are absolute, permanent laws passed down through the ages. The Conservative Jews believe the actions handed down by God can evolve and change over time. The Reconstructionist Jews say everyone has a choice as to whether or not they follow the commandments. The commandments are important to everyone, but they have different ideas about how they should be followed.

Understanding the basic beliefs of Judaism is best accomplished by talking with a Rabbi who is willing to listen to your every idea, a lot of soul-searching on your part, and discussions with every Jew who is willing to share their thoughts with you. What is right, ultimately, depends on what is felt in the heart, and no religion accepts that more strongly than Judaism.

What does it mean to be Jewish? Judaism is often a misunderstood religion, complete with myths and misconceptions. For instance, the simple question of whether Judaism is a religion or a race has been a very real inquiry in our popular culture. It’s hard to believe that something has been in existence for over 4000 years but is still so misunderstood!

Here are the basics: Judaism is a religion, one that has its own set of beliefs. These beliefs are often taught to children in Hebrew schools. However, it becomes confusing when you realize there are many people who call themselves Jews, but they are not believers in Judaism. In fact, more than half of the Jews in Israel consider themselves “secular” with no belief in God. More than half the Jews in the United States are not members of a synagogue.

So obviously, there is more to being Jewish than following a religion!

The United States Supreme Court ruled in the 1980s that Jews are a “race” of people. However, many Jewish people were angered by this, and for good reason. Though the Supreme Court labeled Jews as a race for anti-discrimination purposes, the fact remains that a race is a genetic distinction. A race is a group of people with shared ancestry and shared genetic traits. Your “race” is embedded in your DNA.

Another reason the “race” designation bothered so many people is the image is conjures up – one of the terrible Holocaust and the extermination of certain “races” by the Nazis. By labeling all Jews as a “race” of people, the Supreme Court was inadvertently dragging that painful history into the spotlight.

When secular Jews think about the Jewish religion, they consider the more traditional things that everyone seems to associate with Judaism: The Yiddish language, the food, the holiday observances, and the culture. However, Jews are not a cultural group, nor an ethnic one.

So that leads to the next question: What, exactly, does it mean to be a Jew?

The best answer is that Jews are all of the things listed above…but that doesn’t come close to summing up the whole of the Jewish people. Ultimately, the best answer came from Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s book, where he claims that Jews are a “family.”

Just as every family can be filled with varying beliefs, ideals, and even cultural traiditons, each person is still identified by their family name. Jews are family, just like any other – only on a much larger scale!